UK PES Rankings Tournie: Darren Bent Interview

Since his 16.5 million GBP move from Charlton to Spurs earlier this season - a record for both clubs - Darren Bent has found life on the Tottenham bench much harder than the comfort of The Valley where he was the highest scoring Englishman in the country last season. We got the chance to exchange a few words with him at the recent UK PES Rankings Grand Final in London. Read on for some tiny, bite-sized nuggets of wisdom on life in the top flight and, of course, the beautiful game itself - Pro Evolution Soccer 6.

IGN: How do you rate your likeness in Pro Evo 6?

Darren Bent: Personally I think it looks nothing like me but you know it's me.

IGN: What would you change about your in-game likeness?

Darren Bent: Probably the statistics are slightly wrong, some of them are a bit lower than they should be (laughs).

IGN: Not quite as nippy as the real you?

Darren Bent: No, I'm definitely faster! It's a great football game though, the best football game on the market. I've been playing it for quite a few years.

IGN: Which is your favourite team to play with on Pro Evo?

Darren Bent: Manchester United - you have Rooney, Christiano and Saha, they're all really good.

IGN: It's well known that a lot of pro footballers play Pro Evo. Who would you say is the best?

Darren Bent: Well, everyone in the England team plays it. Ashley Cole's really good, as is Rio - I'd say they're the best.

IGN: Do you find much time to play between games?

Darren Bent: Yeah, we find some time between training.

IGN: Do you think it helps with tactical awareness?

Darren Bent: Nah, not really, though it defintely helps to kill time. It's really good fun playing with the lads and it's just brilliant.

IGN: How are you finding it at Spurs?

Darren Bent: Yeah I'm loving it. It's such a big club and everyone's made me feel so welcome.

IGN: You were guaranteed a spot at Charlton - how is it competing with four other forwards for a place in the team?

Darren Bent: You've got no time to muck around, you know you've got to perform 'cos if you don't perform you won't get a starting place. I went to Tottenham 'cos I wanted to push myself and to improve, and I'm doing that.

IGN: Why did you reject the move to West Ham?

Darren Bent: Purely my own personal goals really. Spurs are a great club on the verge of becoming one of the big four. We're in the UEFA Cup and it's always good to play in Europe.

IGN: What's your prediction for Tottenham for the season?

Darren Bent: Well, our goal is to break into the top four.

IGN: Which team did you support as a kid?

Darren Bent: Chelsea.

IGN: How important is it to you to be called up for England?

Darren Bent: It's always nice to be picked for your country but my main priority is Tottenham. I've got to give it everything I've got for them and then there's always the chance I'll get picked for England.

IGN: Which away game do you look forward to the most in the Premier League?

Darren Bent: Probably Emirates for the derby. It's a great stadium and always a big game.

IGN: Who is your ideal striking partner?

Darren Bent: I don't have one really, I know Defoe and Jenas from the England setup but you have to be able to adapt to play with whoever you play with.

IGN: Did you find that press interest in you increased when you were called up for England?

Darren Bent: Not really, it was more of a shock when I started scoring goals in the Premier League and there was a lot more interest in me.

IGN: Do you find that the press interest intrudes on your life?

Darren Bent: Not really, they just leave me to it. Unless you score an important goal or do something special they don't really bother.

IGN: Do you find that as a role model to young lads you have to live your life in a certain way?

Darren Bent: Not really, you just have to behave properly, it shouldn't be a problem if you do. You should be a role model as it is.

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